Greenwich swimmers outpace Staples

Updated 11:46 pm, Friday, January 16, 2015

By Saturday afternoon, the Greenwich boys swim team will have taken on one of the top teams in the FCIAC and one of the top programs in the state.

As the team to beat year in and year out, it's a challenge coach Terry Lowe and his team are ready to embrace.

Greenwich maintained its status as the team to beat in the FCIAC, defeating Staples 129-57 at home on Friday afternoon. Double winners for the Cardinals were Thomas Dillinger (200 IM and 100 freestyle) and Jack Montesi (100 butterfly and 100 backstroke), while Daniel Williams (500 freestyle) won the lone event for Staples.

With a showdown with Fairfield Prep looming on Saturday, the Cardinals easily deposed of their FCIAC rivals. Chasing its 44th FCIAC title in the last 45 seasons, Greenwich won 11 of 12 events against the team that finished second in the conference last year.

"These are two meets that we pointed to and said let's do a good job," Greenwich coach Terry Lowe said. "So we can know where we are now and get back to work."

The Cardinals began the meet with an impressive time in the 200 medley relay, as the quartet of Jack Montesi, Iain Edmundson, Wyatt Semenuk and Nick Handali crossed the line first in 1:38.36.

"It was a good meet," Staples coach Frisk Driscoll said. "It's definitely a learning experience and a gut check going against the best team in the state hands down. It was a good opportunity to swim at the pool that we will be swimming at FCIACs."

Montesi impressed in both events, including winning the 100 backstroke (54.98) by close to seven seconds. Greenwich swept all three relays with Dillinger and Montesi each swimming a leg in two.

A bright spot for the Wreckers was the 500 freestyle. In addition to Williams winning by more than 11 seconds, teammate Nic Ortega (5:04.91) beat out Greenwich's Ray Warner (5:05.19) for second.

"That was a big swim for (Ortega)," Driscoll said. "(Williams) is one of the better 500 swimmers in the state so he was out there swimming his own race, but Nico dropped nine seconds and that's huge."

Greenwich also swept the diving, with Andrew Bologna and Justin Sodokoff eclipsing the 280 point barrier.

"It was incredible to see both our divers go in the 280s, and Sergei Shaw continuing to improve with his best score of 214," Lowe said.